Restrictor device

ABSTRACT

A restrictor device for limiting the degree of opening of an openable closure. The restrictor device has an arm (10) with a mounting plate (12) to pivotally mount the arm to either the closure or the frame on which the closure is mounted. The arm (10) is furthermore coupled to the closure or the frame as the case may be by a slideable element (16) to which the arm is pivotally coupled by a pivot (15). A movement restricting device is incorporated in the slideable element (16) whereby the movement of the slideable element can be selectively restricted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a restrictor device for use in restricting theextent of opening of an openable closure and more particularly a window.

Restrictor devices for limiting the extent of opening of a window sashfor security and safety purposes are known. Such restrictor devices can,for example, limit the opening of the sash so as to provide forventilation but prevent unauthorised entry from the outside through thewindow. Such restrictor devices are also useable to provide safety so asto prevent a window sash opening to such an extent that, say, a smallchild could pass through the gap between the open sash and the windowframe. Additionally a restrictor device can limit the extent of openingso as to prevent, in the event of uncontrolled opening, a person frombeing drawn through the window opening.

On exceptionally large window sashes restrictor devices can also provideadditional control of the sash when friction stays are fitted.Furthermore, when the sash is simply hung on hinges the restrictordevice provides the sole means of control of the extent of opening andin many cases maintenance of the sash in the open position.

Restrictor devices whether they be for security or safety purposes orsimply to control the sash suffer from a number of drawbacks. Forexample, they are not versatile in operation in that they usuallyprovide control only at specific degrees of openness of the sash.Furthermore they usually only provide control in one direction. Evenfurther, some restrictor devices can become disengaged upon a force inthe opening direction arising, eg due to a wind gust. Such disengagementwill permit the sash to slam closed resulting in damage and/or physicaldanger to someone attending the window or can result in thesecurity/safety purpose of the restrictor being lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a restrictor devicewhich overcomes or at least goes some way to overcoming the drawbacksassociated with known restrictor devices and in particular provides forcontrol at any angle of opening of the closure within a range of openangles.

Broadly in one aspect of the invention there is provided a restrictordevice for limiting the degree of opening of an openable closure, therestrictor device comprising an arm adapted for pivotal mounting toeither the closure or the frame in which the closure is mounted, saidarm furthermore being coupled to the closure or the frame as the casemay be, said coupling being effected by a slideable element pivotallycoupled to the arm, there being included restricting means whereby themovement of the slideable element can be selectively restricted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 is an elevation view of the restrictor device according to oneform of the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the slideable element and thetrack in which the slideable element is engaged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1 the restrictor device comprises an arm 10 which ispivotally coupled at one end via pivot 11 to a mounting plate 12. Themounting plate includes a pair of spaced apart openings 13 through whichmechanical fasteners can engage so as to mount the mounting plate 11 toeither the frame of a window or the window sash but preferably theframe.

The arm 10 is provided with a cranked end 14 which is engaged via apivot 15 to a carriage 16. In the preferred form of the invention thearm 10 includes a longitudinally extending reinforcing rib 17.

Carriage 16 is slidingly engaged within a track 18. At each end of thetrack 18 there is provided an opening 19 through which mechanicalfastenings can engage in order to fixedly mount the track 18 to the edgeof the window sash. In the event that the mounting plate 11 is attachedto the window sash the track is naturally mounted to an edge surface ofthe window frame.

In the illustrated form of the invention the track includes side walls20 which are configured and cooperate with the carriage 16 such that thecarriage is slidingly captured. As is apparent from FIG. 1 the carriageis free to move relative to the track along the longitudinal axis ofboth the track and the carriage.

According to the present invention a mechanism is incorporated with thecarriage such that the movement of the carriage relative to the trackcan be selectively restricted. This is more particularly illustrated inFIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

In the length of the carriage 16 there is formed a waisted portion 21which includes two pairs of inclined surfaces 22 and 23, the surfaces ofeach pair converging toward the respective ends of the carriage 16. Aroller or ball 24 is held against each of inclined surfaces 22 bysprings 25 having one end thereof engaged in a suitable bore 26 in thebody of the carriage 16. Likewise rollers or balls 27 are held againstinclined surfaces 23.

When the carriage 16 is moved relative to track 18 the rollers becomewedged between the carriage and the track preventing movement of thecarriage 16 relative to the track 18.

A sliding switch 28 is fitted to the carriage and by movement of theswitch as hereinafter described three modes of control can be achieved,these modes of control being:

1. Free to open--unable to close.

2. Unable to open--unable to close.

3. Unable to open--free to close.

Switch 28 has three positions in which it can be placed with eachposition being determined by a detent mechanism. In illustrated form thedetent mechanism is a ball 29 biased by a spring 30 located in a bore 31in the waisted portion 21 of the carriage 16. The ball 29 canselectively be engaged in any one of openings 32. In the illustratedarrangement in FIG. 2 the ball 29 is in the central opening 32 with theresult that all four rollers 24 and 27 are held against their respectiveinclined surfaces or ramps 22 and 23 respectively. As a consequence thecarriage 16 is locked in position relative to the track and is unable tomove in either direction along the track.

When the switch is moved in either direction it displaces one pair ofrollers 24 or 27 and holds them clear of their abutting inclinedsurfaces 22 and 23 respectively. The rollers then cannot become wedgedbetween the carriage 16 and the side walls 20 of the track with theresult that movement of the carriage relative to the track can occur inthe direction that the switch 28 is moved. The carriage is, however,still prevented from moving in the opposite direction by the second pairof balls.

Consequently the selected position of switch 28 can result in the threemodes of control referred to above, namely, the window may be free toopen but unable to be closed or is locked in a position where it isunable to open or close or it can be closed but unable to be opened.

Provision can be made for remotely operating switch 28. This isparticularly necessary when the sash reaches the closed position so asto enable the switch 28 to be moved such as to allow the sash to beopened. If the restrictor is contained within a closed cavity the switchwill be inaccessible hence the need for remote control thereof.Alternatively, the switch can be automatically displaced as the sashnears the fully closed position by bearing against a suitably disposedfixed stop or some other appropriate actuator. In a simple remotecontrol arrangement a lever can be coupled to the switch. By having thelever accessible when the sash is closed the switch can be slid to theposition necessary to permit the carriage to slide along the track andhence allow the sash to open. The restrictor device according to thepresent invention thus can provide control at any angle of opening up tothe maximum open angle and this is selectively achievable bymanipulation of the switch 28. It is therefore believed that therestrictor according to the present invention overcomes the limitationsand drawbacks associated with known restrictor devices used for limitingthe opening of a window sash relative to a window frame or, for thatmatter, any openable closure mounted within a frame such as a hingeddoor.

I claim:
 1. A restrictor device for limiting the degree of opening of anopenable closure, the restrictor device comprising:an arm; means forpivotal mounting of the arm to either an openable closure or a frame onwhich the openable closure is mounted; a slideable element wherein thearm is coupled to the slideable element; an elongate mounting element onwhich the slideable element is slidingly moveable between a first andsecond positions; an inclined wedging surface moveable with theslideable element; an engagement surface fixed with the elongatemounting element and relative to which the inclined wedging surface ismoveable; a first wedging element moveable with the slideable elementand located between the inclined wedging surface and the engagementsurface; means for biasing the first wedging element into wedgingcontact between the inclined wedging surface and the engagement surfaceto prevent movement of the slideable element toward the second position;means for selecting a holding position to hold the first wedging elementin a non-wedging position; means for retaining the means for selectingin the holding position; and means for actuating the means for selectingto cause the means for selecting to release the first wedging elementfrom the non-wedging position when the slideable element issubstantially at the second position.
 2. The restrictor device of claim1 wherein the slideable element is a carriage and the engagement surfaceis a track.
 3. The restrictor device of claim 2 wherein the elongatemounting element comprises a pair of side walls between which thecarriage is slidingly captured, wherein the engagement surface is formedby at least part of one of the pair of side walls.
 4. The restrictordevice of claim 3 wherein the first wedging element is a complementarypair of wedging elements each of which is adapted to wedgingly engagebetween an inclined wedging surface and a side wall.
 5. The restrictordevice of claim 4 wherein the means for selecting is mounted with andmovable relative to the slideable element.
 6. The restrictor device ofclaim 5 wherein the means for retaining comprises a detent mechanism. 7.The restrictor device of claim 5 further comprising:means for operatingthe means for selecting from a remote location wherein the means forretaining comprises a ball disposed within a bore formed in thecarriage, wherein the ball is biased by a spring towards one of threedetents formed within the means for selecting.
 8. The restrictor deviceof claim 1 further includinga second wedging element located between afurther inclined wedging surface and a fixed engagement surface, whereinthe second wedging element is maintainable in a non-wedging positionwhen the slideable element is at the first position so that the carriagemay be moved in a first direction and restricted from movement in asecond direction.
 9. The restrictor device of claim 8 furthercomprising:a third position disposed between the first position and thesecond position wherein the carriage is restricted from moving in thefirst direction and in the second direction when the slideable elementis at the third position.